Background
Slade's fourth studio album was conceived and recorded amid various touring and promotional activities in late 1973, and also during the headline-making convalescence of Don Powell. The drummer was involved in a car crash in July, briefly throwing the bands existence into doubt. But with bassist Lea's brother Frank standing in, Slade were able to fulfil a festival obligation on the Isle of Man a few days after the accident.
Despite Powell's critical condition, he was able to make a quick recovery but even as Slade entered the studio to record the single My Friend Stan, Powell was still walking with the aid of a stick, even having to be lifted onto his drum stool. In addition, his memory would never be the same again and his senses of smell and taste were all but numbered.
The band had already performed in America, as well as Australia and Japan. Arriving in Sydney, the band were thrilled and astonished to learn they had three singles in the top three and were also occupying both top two spots in the album charts. By mid-August Powell had recovered sufficiently to rejoin his band-mates for another American tour. However, their entourage flew home in disappointment after new US record label Warner Bros. witnessed a below-par showcase gig in Los Angeles that the band claim was sabotaged by headliners the J Geils Band.
With the huge success of Merry Xmas Everybody, Old New Borrowed and Blue continued the formula that had served Slade so well to date but also there were surprises with the slight change in musical direction.
Read more about this topic: Old New Borrowed And Blue
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